The Crystal Theatre was open briefly in 1912, showing travelogues, such as Seven Years in the Arctic With My Camera, and current events, such as the funeral of John Henry Smith of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Robert and Kimberly Brown opened the Alpine Playhouse in 2004, using their own money to remodel a former warehouse behind Day's Market with a stage, lights, sound, and 100 seats. The playhouse was organized as a nonprofit theatrical association, with an eight-member volunteer advisory board. The Browns knew from the beginning that the theater would not pay for itself and hoped a private individual or a corporation would underwrite the operating costs. That never happened.

On 18 April 2006, Robert Brown announced that "The Foreigner" would be the Apline Playhouse's final show.

"Our financial resources have run out and so the doors will soon be closing," Brown said. "We've had really good crowds, but without a significant influx of cash, we can't continue."

After the closure of the playhouse, Alpine Peaks Performing Arts Studio, the dance company run by Kimberly Brown, took over the theater's portion of the building.